Outlook: Chester, the four-time defending Section 9 champion, lost a lot of talent from last year's state final team but is still the favorite in the division. Record-setting senior quarterback Vinny Aloi and his favorite target, Brandon Sadlier, are back for their third season. Senior Angel Suarez, a key receiver and defensive back last season, takes over as the featured back. Junior Dan Wittekind leads a powerful group of linemen.

Outlook: Eldred struggled offensively, averaging just 15.5 points per game last season. Coach Mike Hoover is hoping last year's challenges make an experienced backfield led by quarterback Hunter Kolvenbach and running backs Nick Warren and Chris Warren better this season. If Eldred's defense is improved, it could compete for the second playoff spot in the division.

Outlook: Livingston Manor returns to the varsity level after a year of jayvee. Some of the team's seniors and juniors played varsity in the 2012 season. Livingston Manor can compete for a playoff spot, barring significant injuries.

Outlook: Pine Plains had only 16 players when training camp opened. The Bombers are young. John Vita, a running back and linebacker, is the team's only senior. Junior Kyle Barton returns at quarterback. Barton injured his throwing shoulder early last season and was limited to playing running back.

Outlook: Roscoe-Downsville, which lost 27-0 to Chester in the Section 9 Class D title game last year, returns experience on the offensive and defensive line and at quarterback with senior Collin Tallman. The Blue Devils were “developing” their backfield in training camp, coach Fred Ahart said. Tallman could slide to running back and junior Nick Hill could see some time under center. Junior Joe Madera is expected to help the offensive line and linebacking corps after not playing last season.

School: Chester

Position: QB

Ht.: 6-4

Wt: 185

Year: Senior

Outlook: Aloi, a 2013 second-team, all-state pick, is perhaps Section 9's most accomplished returning quarterback. He has helped Chester to 17 wins in his first two seasons as a starter.

School: Chester

Position: RB-LB

Ht: 5-9

Wt: 170

Year: Senior

Outlook: Suarez is moving to the team's featured back. He scored six TDs in 2013. One of Chester's top returning defensive players, Suarez moves from the secondary to linebacker.

School: Chester

Position: WR-S

Ht.: 5-11

Wt: 175

Year: Senior

Outlook: Sadlier is one of Section 9's top returning receivers. He caught three touchdown passes in a state semifinal last season. Sadlier is also a playmaker in the secondary.

School: Chester

Position: OL-DL

Ht: 6-4

Wt: 320

Year: Junior

Outlook: After a breakthrough sophomore season, Wittekind is the leader of all-junior offensive and defensive lines.

School: Eldred

Position: QB

Ht: 5-10

Wt: 165

Year: Senior

Outlook: Kolvenbach enters his second season as a starter. He worked in the offseason on his speed and strength, which could make him a dual threat this year.

School: Roscoe-Downsville

Position: C-LB

Ht: 5-10

Wt: 220

Year: Senior

Outlook: McDoal, who enters his third year as a starter, is the anchor of an offensive line that needs to open holes for a new backfield.

School: Roscoe-Downsville

Position: QB-DE

Ht: 6-1

Wt: 205

Year: Senior

Outlook: Tallman, a three-year starting quarterback and four-year starting defensive end, threw for 482 yards and five touchdowns and made 57 tackles last year.

School: Livingston Manor

Position: QB

Ht: 6-3

Wt: 190

Year: Senior

Outlook: Janik, Livingston Manor's starting quarterback as a sophomore, is back at the varsity level after gaining confidence running the spread option on the jayvee team last year.

When: 6:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 5

Where: Chester Commons

Last season: Didn't meet

What to expect: A tough opening matchup for perennial Section 9 power Chester. Hackley went undefeated last season including a 28-21 win over Eldred.

When: 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6

Where: Livingston Manor

Last season: Didn't meet

What to expect: Livingston Manor plays its first varsity game since 2012, opening against Class C semifinalist Liberty.

When: 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20

Where: Roscoe

Last season: Players from Roscoe and Livingston Manor were part of a merged team.

What to expect: A hard-fought, clean game by the schools, which are separated by seven miles.

When: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 2

Where: Chester Commons

Last season: Chester defeated Roscoe-Downsville 27-0 in the Section 9 Class D title game and 64-0 in the regular season.

What to expect: On paper, Chester and Roscoe-Downsville look like the two best teams in Class D again this season. Could be the preview of this year's championship game.

2. Roscoe-Downsville: Roscoe-Downsville's running game was hit hard by the graduation of Brad Dreher, Liam Fogarty and Brian Eskridge. Senior Dylan Murphy, one of team's top returning backs, is questionable this season with a knee injury. If the Blue Devils can develop a few backs to run behind an experienced line, they should make a return trip to the Class D title game.

3. Eldred: The Yellow Jackets should improve on a 2-7 record last year with an all-senior backfield of quarterback Hunter Kolvenbach and twins Nick Warren and Taylor Warren returning. Eldred's offensive and defensive lines should get a boost from the return of Colton Kelty, who didn't play his junior season.

4. Livingston Manor: The wild card of the division. Livingston Manor returns to the varsity level after a jayvee season last year. The team has a core of seniors led by quarterback Matt Janik, wide receiver Terrance Lockhart and lineman Matt McRell, who played varsity as sophomores.

5. Pine Plains: Last year, Pine Plains never recovered from an August car accident involving four players. Two players – Zach Pruner and Gian Stagnaro – died in the accident. This season, the team is fighting numbers. With only one senior, coach Tom Povall is trying to build for the future.